mitzvah dAy | Projects and more

Congregation Rodef Sholom in Youngstown; Temple El Emeth and Children of Israel in Liberty; Congregation Ohev Tzedek in Boardman; Youngstown Area Jewish Federation, Jewish Community Center of Youngstown, Commission for Jewish Educcation and Akiva Academy; will participate in Mitzvah Day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. The day focuses on doing good deeds through community service projects. Projects include:

Sew and Sews: A group has met at Levy Gardens in Youngstown to make walker bags for tenants of Levy Gardens and Whispering Oaks in Hermitage, Pa.; caps, booties and baby blankets for Akron Children’s Hospital; and caps for adults and children undergoing chemotherapy.

Hearing aids: Devices that have been collected will be donated to Dr. Audra Branham of Hearing Innovations, Starkey Hearing Foundation, Levy Gardens and Allison’s Hope for Hearing.

Sojourner House and Someplace Safe: Donations of feminine hygiene products including diapers and toiletries will benefit those at the domestic violence shelters.

Chemotherapy bags: These will be given to adults and children undergoing chemotherapy at the Hope Center in Howland. They include socks, body lotion, hand sanitizer, hard candy, lip balm, magazines, puzzles and head scarves and for children, stickers, coloring books and crayons, small games and allergen-free stuffed animals.

Animal shelters: Items being collected for Valley animal shelters include dog and cat food, leashes and collars, grooming supplies, cat litter and scoops and cleaning products and other supplies such as paper towels, rubber gloves and bath towels.

Eyeglasses: Donations are earmarked for the Lions Club.

Levy Gardens gift bags: These will include snacks and candy, small notepads, pens and current magazines for residents.

Monetary donations: Donations of money also will benefit projects. Visit www.jewishyoungstown.org/mitzvahday, and checks may be made out to Youngstown Area Jewish Federation with memo for Mitzvah Day.

Akiva Academy: Participated in Mitzvah Week with projects including a presentation by a representative of Animal Welfare League in Trumbull County on treating animals with kindness, making cards for Valley organizations and bin collections.

Blood drawing: The American Red Cross will conduct a blood donation from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the JCC, 505 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown. Donors may register for a certain time by calling the JCC at 330-746-3251 or show up.